Liquid crystal display device and method for fabricating the same

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a first substrate having a plurality of pixels defined by crossing gate lines and data lines; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a thin film transistor formed at each crossing between the gate line and the data line on each pixel and having a gate electrode connected to the gate line and a source electrode connected to the data line; a pixel electrode formed at each pixel and connected to a drain electrode of the thin film transistor; a plurality of column spacers formed between the first and second substrates and configured to maintain a gap therebetween; and a protrusion formed on the first substrate and overlapped with one or more of the plurality of column spacers, wherein the protrusion includes a first layer made of the same material as an active layer of the thin film transistor and formed on the same layer as the active layer; a second layer made of the same material as the source and drain electrodes of the thin film transistor and formed on the same layer as the electrodes; and a third layer made of the same material as the pixel electrode and formed on the same layer as the pixel electrode.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 10-2008-0061972, filed on Jun. 27, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a method for fabricating the same, and more particularly, to an LCD device having an enhanced displaying quality of screen in a structure of minimizing a damage of a column spacer due to vibration caused by an external force, and a method for fabricating the same.

2. Background of the Invention

Generally, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device is being widely used due to advantages such as a light weight, a thin thickness, and low power consumption. Accordingly, the LCD device is being widely used to display images on screens of a portable computer, a portable phone, and office automation equipment.

The LCD device displays desired images on a screen by controlling optical transmittance according to image signals applied to a plurality of controlling switching devices arranged in a matrix format.

The LCD device comprises an upper substrate as a color filter substrate, a lower substrate as a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate facing the upper substrate, an LC panel including an LC layer sandwiched by the upper and lower substrates, and a driving portion for driving the LC panel by supplying scan signals and image information to the LC panel.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a LCD device according to the related art. As shown in FIG. 1, a general LCD device according to the related art includes a first substrate 1 a defining a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate, a second substrate 1 b defining a color filter substrate, and an LCD layer 40 interposed between the first substrate 1 a and the second substrate 1 b.

Although not shown in detail in the drawing, gate lines 2 and data lines (not shown) which cross each other horizontally and perpendicularly on the first substrate 1 a to define a plurality of pixels, and a TFT 4 is disposed at each crossing between the gate line 2 and the data line of each pixel.

The TFT 4 includes a gate electrode 4 a formed on the first substrate 1 a, a gate insulating layer 4 b on the gate electrode 4 a, an active layer 4 c on the gate insulating layer 4 b, and source electrode 4 d and drain electrode 4 e both on the active layer 4 c. The source electrode 4 d and the drain electrode 4 e are covered with a protection film 9.

A plurality of protrusions 8 having a double-layered structure are formed on each gate line 2 on the first substrate 1 a. Each protrusion 8 is implemented, having a layer 8 a formed on the same layer as the active layer 4 c being located and made of the same material as the active layer 4 c, and a layer 8 b formed on the same layer as the source and drain electrodes 4 d and 4 e being located and made of the same material as those electrodes 4 d and 4 e.

Referring to FIG. 1, a column spacer 7 for maintaining a gap (space) between the first substrate 1 a and the second substrate 1 b is formed on the second substrate 1 b. The column spacer 7 is partially overlapped with the protrusion 8 formed on the first substrate 1 a.

If it is assumed that part of the column spacer 7 overlapped with the protrusion 8 is referred to as a first column spacer 7 a and part of the column spacer 7 not overlapped with the protrusion 8 is referred to as a second column spacer 7 b, the first column spacer 7 a serves to maintain a constant gap between the first substrate 1 a and the second substrate 1 b together with the protrusion 8, and the second column spacer 7 b is configured to come in contact with a top layer of the first substrate 1 a when the second substrate 1 b is pressed by a user's touch or the like, so as to prevent the deformation of the first and second substrates 1 a and 1 b and induce a fast restoration thereof.

Although not shown in detail, the first and second substrates 1 a and 1 b are received and fixed in a casing including a lower cover (not shown), an upper cover (not shown) and a main support (not shown) and the like. Most of such casing is disposed to press edges of the first and second substrates 1 a and 1 b.

The general LCD device according to the related art having such configuration is configured such that the first column spacer 7 a and the protrusion 8 are not bonded to each other but rather contacted by each other directly or indirectly. Accordingly, the first column spacer 7 a and the protrusion 8 may move in respectively different directions due to vibration caused by an external force, resulting in friction occurred therebetween. In this case, the first column spacer 7 a may partially be deformed or damaged, which may cause the change in the gap between the first substrate 1 a and the second substrate 1 b. The deformation or damage of the first column spacer 7 a due to such friction results from the first column spacer 7 a having a greater size than the protrusion 8 and being made of polymer with elasticity.

In particular, the deformation or damage of the first column spacer 7 a frequently occurs at an area adjacent to the casing. This is because in case where a vibration caused by an external force is applied to the first and second substrates 1 a and 1 b, while the protrusion 8 defined at the area adjacent to the casing moves in a certain direction, the first column spacer 7 a generates resistance in a direction opposite to the movement direction of the protrusion due to an interference of the case.

FIG. 2 is a photograph showing an image defective area in the related art LCD device of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, if the gap between the first substrate 1 a and the second substrate 1 b is changed due to the deformation or damage of part of the first column spacer 7 a formed at the area adjacent to the casing, an image defective area may be generated at areas corresponding to edges of the first and second substrates 1 a and 1 b. Moreover, as the LCD device is used for longer time, the image defective area is expected to be increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a method for fabricating the same that substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the invention is to provide an LCD device having an enhanced displaying quality of screen by minimizing a damage of a column spacer due to vibration caused by an external force.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for fabricating an LCD device having an enhanced displaying quality of screen by minimizing a damage of a column spacer due to vibration caused by an external force.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a first substrate having a plurality of pixels defined by crossing gate lines and data lines; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a thin film transistor formed at each crossing between the gate line and the data line on each pixel and having a gate electrode connected to the gate line and a source electrode connected to the data line; a pixel electrode formed at each pixel and connected to a drain electrode of the thin film transistor; a plurality of column spacers formed between the first and second substrates and configured to maintain a gap therebetween; and a protrusion formed on the first substrate and overlapped with one or more of the plurality of column spacers, wherein the protrusion includes a first layer made of the same material as an active layer of the thin film transistor and formed on the same layer as the active layer; a second layer made of the same material as the source and drain electrodes of the thin film transistor and formed on the same layer as the electrodes; and a third layer made of the same material as the pixel electrode and formed on the same layer as the pixel electrode.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a LCD device according to the related art;

FIG. 2 is a photograph showing an image defective area in the related art LCD device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a planar view of an LCD device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of both first and second substrates along the line I-I′ of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a planar view of an exemplary distribution of protrusions shown in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 6 a to 6 k are cross-sectional views of steps for fabricating the LCD device shown in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are graph and table, respectively, showing test results for an LCD device having comparative protrusions with the same thickness as that of the protrusion of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 9 is graph showing test results for the LCD device of FIG. 1 and the LCD device of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Description will now be given in detail of an LCD device and a fabricating method thereof according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, the construction of an LCD device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

FIG. 3 is a planar view of an LCD device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of both first and second substrates along the line I-I′ of FIG. 3. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an LCD device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention may include a first substrate 101 a having a plurality of pixels defined by gate lines 102 and data lines 103 crossing each other, a second substrate 101 b facing the first substrate 101 a, thin film transistors (TFTs) 104 each formed at a crossing between the gate line 102 and the data line 103 of each pixel, and each having a gate electrode 104 a connected to the gate line 102 and a source electrode 104 d connected to the data line 103, pixel electrodes 105 each formed at each pixel and connected to a drain electrode 104 e of the TFT 104, a plurality of column spacers 107 formed between the first substrate 101 a and the second substrate 101 b for maintaining the gap (space) therebetween, and protrusions formed on the first substrate 201 a to face some of the plurality of column spacers 107. The protrusions 8 may include a first layer 108 a made of the same material as an active layer 104 c of the TFT 105 and formed on the same layer as the active layer 104 c being located, a second layer 108 b made of the same material as the source and drain electrodes 104 d and 104 e of the TFT 104 and formed on the same layer as those electrodes 104 d and 104 e being located, and a third layer 108 c made of the same material as the pixel electrode 105 and formed on the same layer as the pixel electrode 105 being located.

Each component of the LCD device having such construction in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail.

Referring back to FIGS. 3 and 4, the LCD device according to the preferred embodiment is provided with an LC panel including the first substrate 101 a as a TFT array substrate and the second substrate 101 b as a color filter substrate, and an LC layer 140 sandwiched between the first and second substrates 101 a and 101 b.

Referring to FIG. 4, the gate lines 102 and the data lines 103 defining plural pixels with crossing each other in horizontal and longitudinal directions are formed on the first substrate 101 a. Each TFT 104 is formed at a crossing between the gate line 102 and the data line 103 on each pixel, so as to be connected to the gate line 102 and the data line 103.

As shown in FIG. 3 and 4, the TFT 104 formed on each pixel may include a gate electrode 104 a formed on the first substrate 101 a, a gate insulating layer 104 b located on the gate electrode 104 a, an active layer 104 c located on the gate insulating layer 104 d, and source electrode 104 d and drain electrode 104 e located on the active layer 104 c. A protection film 109 is then disposed on the first substrate 101 a having the TFTs 104 with such configuration.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pixel electrodes 105 diverged in plurality are formed on each pixel on the protection film 109. The pixel electrode 105 is connected to the drain electrode 104 e of the TFT 104 within the corresponding pixel.

Common electrodes 106 diverged in plurality are formed on each pixel on the protection film 109 so as to be aligned alternate with the pixel electrodes 105. The common electrode 106 configures a horizontal electric field together with the pixel electrode 105, thus to drive the LC layer 140.

Although shown in the drawings, a color filter layer (not shown) including red, blue and green sub color filters is formed on the second substrate 101 b, and a black matrix (not shown) is formed on boundary areas of the sub color filters and on an area corresponding to each TFT 104.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the column spacers 107, namely, the first column spacer 107 a and the second column spacer 107 b, for maintaining the gap between the first and second substrates 101 a and 101 b are formed on the second substrate 101 b.

For reference, FIG. 3 shows the first substrate 101 a and the components defined on the first substrate 101 a. However, for the sake of the explanation, the first and second column spacers 107 a and 107 b are also shown in FIG. 3.

The first column spacer 107 a is formed to be overlapped with the protrusion 108 of the first substrate 101 a so as to come in contact therewith directly or indirectly, whereas the second column spacer 107 b is not overlapped with the protrusion 108 of the first substrate 101 a and is disposed with being spaced apart from a top layer (e.g., an alignment layer) of the first substrate 101 a by a certain interval. Although not shown, the alignment layer is configured to initially align liquid crystal in a certain direction.

The first column spacer 107 a maintains a constant cell gap between the first and second substrates 101 a and 101 b together with the protrusion 108, which is thusly called a gap spacer. The second column spacer 107 b comes in contact with a top layer (e.g., an alignment layer) of the first substrate 101 a when pressure is applied to the first substrate 101 a or the second substrate 101 b, so as to prevent an excessive deformation of the first and second substrates 101 a and 101 b, which is thusly called a press spacer.

Referring to FIG. 4, the protrusion 108, which is overlapped with one end of the first column spacer 107 a to press the same by a certain pressure, includes the first layer 108 a, the second layer 108 b and the third layer 108 c.

The first layer 108 a of the protrusion 108 is made of the same material as the active layer 104 c of the TFT 104 and formed on the same layer as the active layer 104 c being located, the second layer 108 b is made of the same material as the source and drain electrodes 104 d and 104 e of the TFT and formed on the same layer as the electrodes 104 d and 104 e being located, and the third layer 108 c is made of the same material as the pixel electrode 105 and formed on the same layer as the pixel electrode 105 being located.

The protrusion 108, as mentioned above, is disposed to continuously press upwardly the first column spacer 107 a by a certain pressure, so as to be overlapped with each other. Accordingly, even if a vibration due to an external force is applied to the first substrate 101 a and the second substrate 101 b, the protrusion 108 and the first column spacer 107 a move in the same direction.

In an embodiment of the invention, the protrusion 108 is formed to be overlapped with the gate line 102 on the first substrate 101 a has been shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In other embodiments, the protrusion 108 may formed on different positions on the substrate.

Although not shown in detail, the first and second substrates 101 a and 101 b are received and fixed in a casing including a lower cover (not shown), an upper cover (not shown) and a main support (not shown) and the like. Most of such casing is disposed to press edges of the first and second substrates 101 a and 101 b. Relatively many number of protrusions 108 are formed at the area adjacent to the casing on the first substrate 101 a, and relatively small number of protrusions 108 are formed at the other areas.

FIG. 5 is a planar view of an exemplary distribution of protrusions shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of the protrusion 108 among the plural components formed on the first substrate 101 a in order to conceptually represent the distribution of the protrusions 108. As shown in FIG. 5, the distribution of the protrusions 108 decreases from the edge of the first substrate 101 a toward the central portion thereof.

In an embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 5 and the above description, the distribution of the protrusions 108 is decreased from the edge of the first substrate 101 a toward the central portion thereof, however. In another embodiment, many variations, such as distributing relatively many protrusions 108 at an area having a defect found out through an impact test which is executed before packing products, can be considered.

Hereinafter, a method for fabricating an LCD device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 a to 6 k. For the sake of explanation of the fabricating method, components not shown in FIGS. 6 a to 6 k will be referred to FIG. 3.

FIGS. 6 a to 6 k are cross-sectional views of steps for fabricating the LCD device shown in FIG. 3. In an embodiment of the invention, each of first to fourth photosensitive films 121, 122, 123 and 124 employed in the description herein is in a positive format in which an exposed portion is removed. In another embodiment, the first to fourth photosensitive films 121, 122, 123 and 124 employed in the fabricating method of the LCD device me be in a negative format in which a non-exposed portion is removed.

First, a first substrate 101 a having a plurality of pixels defined is prepared.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6 a, a first metallic layer 111 and a first photosensitive film 121 are sequentially formed on the first substrate 101 a, and thereafter a first photolithography using a first mask 131 is executed to form a first photosensitive pattern (not shown).

Here, the first mask 131 is provided with a non-transmissive region defined at an area where the gate electrode 104 a and the gate line 102 are to be formed and a transmissive region defined at the other areas excluding the non-transmissive region. The first mask 131 is shown having a positive structure. However, if the first mask 131 has a negative structure, the non-transmissive region may be switched with the transmissive region when compared with the positive structure.

Next, the first metallic layer 111 is selectively removed by using the first photosensitive pattern, thereby forming the gate electrode 104 a of the TFT 104 and the gate line 102, as shown in FIG. 6 b.

Next, a gate insulating layer 104 b is formed on the first substrate 101 a.

Afterwards, as shown in FIG. 6 c, a semiconductor layer 112, a second metallic layer 113 and a second photosensitive film 122 are sequentially formed on the gate insulating layer 104 b, and a second photolithography using a second mask 132 is executed so as to form a second photosensitive pattern (not shown).

Here, the second mask 132 is provided with a non-transmissive region defined at an area where source electrode 104 d and drain electrode 104 e are to be formed and an area where a first layer 108 a and a second layer 108 b of the protrusion 108 are to be formed, a slit region (or a semi-transmissive region) defined at an area between the source electrode 104 d and the drain electrode 104 e, and a transmissive region defined at the other regions excluding the non-transmissive region and the slit region.

Next, the second metallic layer 113 and the semiconductor layer 112 are selectively removed by using the second photosensitive pattern, so as to form an active layer 104 c of the TFT 104 and the first and second layers 108 a and 108 b of the protrusion 108, as shown in FIG. 6 d. Afterwards, an area of the second photosensitive pattern corresponding to the slit region (or the semi-transmissive region) is removed so as to form a third photosensitive pattern (not shown), which is then used to selectively remove the second metallic layer 113, thereby forming the source electrode 104 d and the drain electrode 104 e of the TFT 104. Here, the first layer 108 a of the protrusion 108 is formed at an area overlapped with the gate line 102, and is less distributed at the central portion of the first substrate 101 a than at the edge of the first substrate 101 a.

In the drawings and the description thereof, it has been described the protrusion 108 having the first layer 108 a is formed at the area overlapped with the gate line 102; however, it is merely exemplary, not being limited to. The protrusion 108 may be formed at other areas within the scope of the present invention.

In an embodiment, the protrusion 108 having the first layer 108 a is less distributed at the central portion of the first substrate 101 a than at the edge of the first substrate 101 a. In another embodiment, many variations, such as distributing relatively many protrusions 108 at an area having a defect found out through an impact test which is executed before packing products, can be considered.

Afterwards, as shown in FIG. 6 e, a protection film 109 is covered on the first substrate 101 a provided with the source electrode 104 d and the drain electrode 104 e of the TFT 104 and the second layer 108 b of the protrusion 108.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6 f, after forming a third photosensitive film 123 on the protection film 109, a third photolithography is executed using a third mask 133 to form a fourth photosensitive pattern (not shown). Here, the third mask 133 is provided with a transmissive region defined at an area where a contact hole 110, through which the drain electrode 104 e of the TFT 104 is partially exposed, is to be formed, and a non-transmissive region defined at the other areas excluding the transmissive region.

Afterwards, the protection film 109 is selectively removed by using the fourth photosensitive pattern, so as to form the contact hole 110, as shown in FIG. 6 g.

A conductive material layer 114 and a fourth photosensitive film 124 are then sequentially formed on the protection film 109, as shown in FIG. 6 h. After then, a fourth photolithography is executed using a fourth mask 134 so as to form a fifth photosensitive pattern (not shown).

Here, the fourth mask 134 is provided with a non-transmissive region defined at an area where a pixel electrode 105 and a third layer 108 c of the protrusion 108 are to be formed, and a transmissive region defined at the other areas excluding the non-transmissive region.

The conductive material layer 114 may be formed of transparent conductive oxide or a non-transparent metal. One example of the transparent conductive oxide may include indium tin oxide (ITO).

Next, the conductive material layer 114 is selectively removed using the fifth photosensitive pattern, so as to form the pixel electrode 105 coming in contact with the drain electrode 104 e of the TFT 104 and a third layer 108 c of the protrusion 108, as shown in FIG. 6 i. Here, the third layer 108 c of the protrusion 108 is formed to be overlapped with the first and second layers 108 a and 108 b.

Afterwards, a second substrate 101 b is prepared.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6 j, a first column spacer 107 a and a second column spacer 107 b are formed on the second substrate 101 b. Here, the first column spacer 107 a is formed at a position overlapped with the protrusion 108 on the first substrate 101 a.

Although not shown in detail in the drawings, the first and second column spacers 107 a and 107 b may be formed, in a sequential manner, by forming a polymer material layer (not shown) and the fifth photosensitive film (not shown) on the second substrate 101 b, forming a sixth photosensitive pattern (not shown) through a fifth photolithography using a fifth mask (not shown), and selectively removing the polymer material layer using the sixth photosensitive pattern.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6 k, the first substrate 101 a and the second substrate 101 b are bonded to each other such that the first column spacer 107 a is overlapped with the protrusion 108. Here, the protrusion 108 presses the first column spacer 107 a by a certain pressure.

In an embodiment of the invention, since the protrusion 108 presses the first column spacer 107 a by the certain pressure, upon a vibration being applied due to an external force, the first column spacer 107 a and the protrusion 108 can be prevented from being moved by a casing (not shown) in respectively different directions. Therefore, the deformation and damage of the first column spacer 107 a due to the protrusion 108 can be prevented.

Moreover, in an embodiment of the invention, since the protrusion 108 presses the first column spacer 107 a by the certain pressure, a liquid crystal margin can be ensured in a larger range, thereby decreasing liquid crystal consumption.

If the liquid crystal is not fully filled in a space between the first substrate 101 a and the second substrate 101 b, a touch defect may be caused. On the other hand, if the liquid crystal is excessively filled therein, a gravity defect may be caused. However, an embodiment of the invention ensures a larger range of liquid crystal margin, so as to reduce probability of such defect occurrence. Here, the touch defect indicates that when a user, for example, rubs a screen, the liquid crystal is not restored to its original state, such that stains remain on the screen. When the liquid crystal is not as much as being fully filled in the space between the first substrate 101 a and the second substrate 101 b, such touch defect can be aggravated. The gravity defect indicates that the liquid crystal flows down in a gravity direction so as to occur a screen defect. When the liquid crystal is excessively filled in the space between the first substrate 101 a and the second substrate 101 b, such gravity defect can be aggravated.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are graph and table, respectively, showing test results for an LCD device having comparative protrusions with the same thickness as that of the protrusion of FIG. 3. That is, by using the test results for the LCD device having the comparative protrusion (not shown) having the same thickness as that of the protrusion 108 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the effect obtained by disposing the protrusion 108 to press the first column spacer 107 a by a certain pressure can be shown. For the description based upon FIGS. 7 and 8, other components except for the comparative protrusion, among the components of the LCD device having the comparative protrusion, will be described based upon the reference numerals given in FIGS. 3 and 4 showing the LCD device according to an embodiment of the invention.

The comparative protrusion is provided with a fourth layer (not shown) and a fifth layer (not shown). The fourth layer is made of the same material as the active layer 104 c of the TFT 104 and formed on the same layer as the active layer 104 c being located. Here, the fourth layer has the same thickness as that of the first layer 108 a of the protrusion 108 according to an embodiment of the invention. Also, the fifth layer is made of the same material as the source and drain electrodes 104 d and 104 e of the TFT 104 and formed on the same layer as the electrodes 104 d and 104 e being located. Here, the fifth layer is as thick as adding the thickness of the second layer 108 b and that of the third layer 108 c of the protrusion 108.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing test results of defect levels according to a mechanical vibration as increasing the thickness of the fifth layer of the comparative protrusion. Here, the defect levels have been represented as relative numbers, under the assumption that the defect level is “0” if there is no defect, the defect level is “1” if a low defect, such as a dark thin line, is found out at a lower portion of a screen, the defect level is “2” if a high defect, such as a darker and thinner line, is observed, and the defect level is “3” if such defective line is observed at all four edges of the screen. Such defect may be a screen defect which may be caused by the deformation or damage of the first column spacer 107 a due to a friction between the comparative protrusion and the first column spacer 107 a.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the LCD device having the comparative protrusion, the highest defect level is observed when the thickness of the fifth layer is 2000[□] whereas the lowest defect level is observed when the thickness of the fifth layer is 2500[□]. Therefore, as the comparative protrusion is thicker, the defect level according to the intensity of mechanical vibration can be decreased.

Also, FIG. 8 is a table showing measurement results of liquid crystal margins in a plurality of LCD devices (e.g., 8 LCD devices) according to the related art and a plurality of LCD devices (e.g., 8 LCD devices) having the comparative protrusions. Here, an example is illustrated that 244-dot liquid crystal is a reference point to fully fill the space between the first substrate 101 a and the second substrate 101 b.

As shown in FIG. 8, since the LCD device according to the related art has a 9-dot liquid crystal margin whereas the LCD device having the comparative protrusion has a 13-dot liquid crystal margin, it can be noticed that the LCD device having the comparative protrusion ensures 4-dot more liquid crystal margin.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the LCD device having the comparative protrusion with the same thickness as that of the protrusion 108 according to an embodiment of the invention can have advantages of having an enhanced displaying quality of screen because a defect occurrence caused by a vibration due to an external force is reduced, and also of minimizing the liquid crystal consumption due to ensuring a large range of liquid crystal margins.

However, the fifth layer of the comparative protrusion having the same thickness as that of the protrusion 108 according to an embodiment of the invention is formed of a metal, which is the same material as the source and drain electrodes 104 d and 104 e of the TFT 104, and has a thickness corresponding to the sum of thicknesses of the second layer 108 b and the third layer 108 c of the protrusion 108, whereby an excessively thick metallic layer is configured. As a result, the chance of causing defects, such as short, during the fabricating process of the LCD device can be increased. In addition, in the LCD device having the comparative protrusion, the comparative protrusion is formed together with the active layer and the source and drain electrodes of the TFT. Accordingly, as the comparative protrusion becomes thicker, the source and drain electrodes of the TFT also become thicker, and as a result, a short may be caused at an overlapped area between the source and drain electrodes and the gate electrode.

As such, it can be understood as follows from the description with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. That is, by implementing the structure of the LCD device according to an embodiment of the invention in which the protrusion 108 having the same thickness as that of the comparative protrusion (not shown) is provided and simultaneously the second layer 108 b of the protrusion 108 is configured as a metallic layer thinner than the fifth layer of the comparative protrusion (not shown), a defect caused by a vibration due to an external force can be reduced, a larger range of liquid crystal margins can be ensured, and simultaneously the chance of short occurrence of the second layer 108 b cannot be concerned while driving the LCD device.

FIG. 9 is graph showing test results for the LCD device of FIG. 1 and the LCD device of FIG. 3. The graph in FIG. 9 shows test results of defect levels according to a mechanical vibration respectively in the LCD device according to an embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and the related art LCD device as shown in FIG. 1. The present invention has given tests under the assumption that the third layer 108 c of the protrusion 108 has a thickness of 400 Å. Here, the defect levels have been represented as relative numbers, similar to FIG. 7, under the assumption that the defect level is “0” if there is no defect, the defect level is “1” if a low defect, such as a dark thin line, is found out at a lower portion of a screen, the defect level is “2” if a high defect, such as a darker and thinner line, is observed, and the defect level is “3” if such defective line is observed at all four edges of the screen.

As shown in FIG. 9, the related art LCD device increases the defect level when the mechanical vibration is stronger; however, the LCD device according to an embodiment of the invention having the protrusion 108 provided with the first, second and third layers 108 a, 108 b and 108 c rarely occurs any defect even if the mechanical vibration is stronger.

That is, the LCD device according to an embodiment of the invention can enhance the displaying quality of screen because a vibration due to an external force cannot deform or damage the first column spacer 107 a, reduce the consumption of liquid crystal due to ensuring a large range of liquid crystal margins, and also improve the displaying quality of screen because a short of the protrusion 108 cannot occur while driving the LCD device.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The present teachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features, structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtain additional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments.

As the present features may be embodied in several forms without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims. 

1. A liquid crystal display (LCD) device, comprising: a first substrate having a plurality of pixels defined by crossing gate lines and data lines; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a thin film transistor formed at each crossing between the gate line and the data line on each pixel and having a gate electrode connected to the gate line and a source electrode connected to the data line; a pixel electrode formed at each pixel and connected to a drain electrode of the thin film transistor; a plurality of column spacers formed between the first and second substrates and configured to maintain a gap therebetween; and a protrusion formed on the first substrate and overlapped with one or more of the plurality of column spacers, wherein the protrusion includes: a first layer made of the same material as an active layer of the thin film transistor and formed on the same layer as the active layer, a second layer made of the same material as the source and drain electrodes of the thin film transistor and formed on the same layer as the electrodes, and a third layer made of the same material as the pixel electrode and formed on the same layer as the pixel electrode.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the column spacers are formed on the second substrate.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is disposed to press upwardly the column spacer.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formed on the gate line of the first substrate.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is less distributed at a central portion of the first substrate than at an edge of the first substrate.
 6. A method for fabricating a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, comprising: preparing a first substrate having a plurality of pixels defined thereon; forming a gate electrode of a thin film transistor on each pixel of the first substrate by using a first mask; forming a gate insulating layer on the first substrate; forming active layer and source and drain electrodes of the thin film transistor and first and second layers of a protrusion on the gate insulating layer by using a second mask; forming a protection film covered on the source and drain electrodes of the thin film transistor and the second layer of the protrusion, and forming a contact hole for exposing part of the drain electrode on the protection film by using a third mask; forming a pixel electrode coming in contact with the drain electrode through the contact hole and a third layer of the protrusion by using a fourth mask; preparing a second substrate; forming a plurality of column spacers on the second substrate, wherein part of the plurality of column spacers is overlapped with the protrusion on the first substrate; and bonding the first substrate to the second substrate such that the protrusion is overlapped with part of the plurality of column spacers.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein during the step of forming the gate electrode of the thin film transistor using the first mask, the gate line is also formed, wherein the protrusion is formed at an area overlapped with the gate line.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the protrusion is less distributed at a central portion of the first substrate than at an edge of the first substrate.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein at the step of bonding the first substrate to the second substrate, the protrusion on the first substrate is disposed to press the column spacer on the second substrate by a certain pressure. 